Scary injury suspends OP-North boys hoops game
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

Williamsville North's home basketball game with Orchard Park from last Thursday will conclude at 12:30 p.m. this Saturday because of injuries to two Quaker players.

Tied at 35-35 with 1:49 remaining in the third quarter, OP point guard Andy Buyea and shooting guard Jim Brewer collided while attempting to grab an offensive rebound.

North coach Chuck Swierski said Buyea went over Brewer in an attempt to grab the rebound. As Buyea was going over, he accidentally hit Brewer in the back of the neck. Buyea hit his chin on the floor, fell unconscious, and had a seizure.

"I immediately asked the guy working at the scorer's table to call 911 and get an ambulance right away," Swierski said. "Luckily, one of our proctors was the school nurse, Elaine Herberger."

Buyea and Brewer were each taken to Erie County Medical Center where they were treated for concussions. Swierski said Brewer was cleared to practice on Monday.

Swierski said he, assistant coach Bill Gorman and seniors Alex Calderon, Zach Boron and John Ticco visited Buyea and Brewer later that night.

"It was a lot scarier looking than it actually turned out to be," said Swierski.

Swierski made the decision to suspend the game.

"Continuing the game was the wrong thing to do," said Swierski.

Until the injury, it was a game of runs. North jumped out to a 12-2 first quarter lead and were ahead, 14-8, at the end of the quarter. Up 20-10 in the second quarter, OP answered with 11 straight points. North scored the next six to take a 29-26 halftime lead.

Alex Barth was leading the Spartans with 10 points.

Besides the OP makeup, the Spartans host Jamestown at 7:30 p.m. on Friday. They played at Lancaster on Tuesday but results were unavailable before The Bee went to press.

e-mail: pnagy@beenews.com